Veteran Atlanta policeman killed

ATLANTA -- A 25-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department was shot and killed early Sunday morning during a botched car jacking.

Sgt. Melvin Grigley, 51, was not on duty at the time.

Fulton County police said Grigley and his friend Debbie Blaylock were sitting in his car in Blaylock's driveway in College Park about 1 a.m. when two or three men approached them.

Police said the men told Grigley and Blaylock to get out of the car and lie down on the ground and then got into Grigley's BMW.

Grigley, who recently left the gun tracking unit to join the homicide unit, apparently fired six shots from his .38-caliber revolver at the assailants before they could drive away. Police don't know if anyone was struck.

Police said the driver returned fire, hitting Grigley once in the chest. Blaylock was not injured.

The men then abandoned the car and fled on foot. Police were searching Sunday for suspects and a possible witness who was seen standing in the street.